These vessels are an important part of the curriculum as sea time is required for graduation and for licensure.

I know that they're also engaged in a notice of proposed rulemaking to try to address this.

I look forward to hearing from each of you.

Thank you very much, Mr. Secretary. I want to pick up where the ranking member, Senator Reed, left off, the issue of the budget containing no new money for VASH vouchers which go to our homeless veterans.

The potential of the new technology that we're examining today is exciting, cars that drive themselves and avoid accidents.

Rail safety is a very important issue that this committee takes seriously, and I know the Department does as well.

I am pleased to be joined today by our Ranking Member, Senator Jack Reed, as we hold this hearing to examine the role of government in enhancing roadway safety through the careful deployment of automated and self-driving vehicles, which…

I applaud the vision.

I am very pleased to see that the Department and the administration continue to highlight the importance of this vital program.

I am also disappointed that just 3 months after Congress passed the FAST Act, the budget proposes an entirely new 10-year, $495 billion '21st Century Clean Transportation Plan' on top of the FAST Act.

In terms of insurance, yes, in the long run we might expect insurance rates to go down because fewer crashes mean lower costs for personal injury and damage.

What actions do you believe are necessary on the part of the Department to ensure that lenders are in compliance with FHA's underwriting standards?

These crashes are preventable, and we should be doing everything we can to eliminate them.

The question of how best to house families and individuals in need of assistance has simply not received the attention it deserves.

I look forward to working with you on this important bill, and to hearing from you and the inspector general.

I have serious reservations about the legislative proposal in the House that seeks to privatize air traffic control outside of the F.A.A.

There continues to be a large discrepancy in the number of sexual assaults that are officially reported and the responses to the anonymous survey.

the issue of reducing the homelessness among our youth is one that is a passion of mine.

This shipyard is considered the gold standard. It's the most productive of our four public shipyards.

I just cannot overstate how satisfied the veterans are with this program.

That law, that requirement, to consider China as a non-market economy, has directly benefitted American workers seeking to combat unfair and illegal trade practices by China.

I have heard from veterans, veteran services organizations, and VA officials that the Choice Program's continuum of care process is broken and dysfunctional.

ARCH ought to be the model for the Choice program.

Will you direct your NOAA officials who are going to be at the forum this weekend to truly sit down with our fishermen and try to work out a solution that does not result in even more of the ground fishermen in my State and throughout New…

I do not understand the resistance of the VA to preserving the program.